FRANKFURT, Germany-- German automaker Volkswagen AG says net profit rose 58 percent in the third quarter because of an accounting boost from its takeover of Porsche. Volkswagen said it was sticking to its earnings forecast despite what it called "growing headwinds" in the business environment.

PARIS-- The extent of the European car industry's troubles was laid bare Wednesday, when France's government tossed a financial lifeline to the continent's No. 2 automaker, Peugeot Citroen, and Ford said it would shut a plant in Belgium, cutting 9,500 jobs.

NASHVILLE, Tenn.-- Japanese automaker Nissan Motor Co. announced Friday it will add a third shift at a vehicle assembly plant in Tennessee, adding more than 800 jobs. "Nissan and Tennessee have enjoyed a long and successful partnership, and this announcement shows the strength of the company and the market demand for its products," Haslam said in a statement.

YOKOSUKA, Japan-- Electronically managed steering that completely bypasses the mechanical link of a clutch is among the new safety technology from Japanese automaker Nissan. Other vehicles are smart enough to park themselves.

*Cars to be priced between 5,000- 10,000 euros- sources. BERLIN, Oct 12- German carmaker Volkswagen. Europe's biggest carmaker is eyeing a price range of between 5,000 and 10,000 euros for the budget cars which may include a van, estate and a small sedan, the sources said, confirming a report in German business daily Handelsblatt.

BERLIN-- Strong sales in Eastern Europe helped Volkswagen AG post a 6.5 percent increase in September sales over the same month last year, despite difficulties caused by the European financial crisis. Volkswagen said Friday it sold 801,000 vehicles in September, against 751,900 in September 2011.

LONDON, Oct 12- European stocks were set to open slightly lower on Friday as expectations for a weak earnings season and lingering uncertainty about Spain's debt crisis kept investors on the back foot after healthy gains in the previous session. Financial spreadbetters expected Britain's FTSE 100 to open 15 to 18 points lower, or as much as 0.3 percent.

Porsche indicated 0.6 pct lower, Volkswagen 0.1 pct lower. The holding company of German carmaker Porsche has received a fresh lawsuit from the family of a deceased industrialist, linked to its 2008 attempt to take over Volkswagen.

BEIJING, Oct 12- Volkswagen AG and its China joint ventures sold 18.3 percent more vehicles in mainland China and Hong Kong in the first three quarters, the German automaker said on Friday. Sales came to nearly 2 million vehicles during the nine-month period, compared with 1.69 million a year earlier, it said in a statement.

BEIJING, Oct 12- Vehicle sales in China fell 1.8 percent in September from a year earlier as Japanese automakers' sales collapsed. Industry-wide sales in China, including passenger cars and commercial vehicles, totalled 1.62 million vehicles in September, compared with 1.65 million a year ago, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers.---------------------------------------------------------------.

Bill Haslam was asked at the Southern Automotive Conference on Thursday about what steps are being taken to keep investments from moving abroad, especially in light of a recent decision by German automaker Audi to build its first North American plant in Mexico. Audi is a Volkswagen subsidiary.

BERLIN, Oct 11- The holding company of German carmaker Porsche has received a fresh lawsuit linked to its 2008 attempt to take over Volkswagen- a 213- million-euro claim from the family of a deceased industrialist.

FRANKFURT, Oct 11- German financial holding company Porsche SE said it was being sued for 213 million euros in damages from HWO, a firm linked to the family of deceased German industrialist Adolf Merckle. "We consider this to be unfounded and we will defend ourselves," a spokesman for Porsche SE said on Thursday.

BEIJING, Oct 11- Top Chinese automaker SAIC Motor Corp said on Thursday its September auto sales climbed 4.6 percent from a year earlier to 393,986 vehicles. That pace was slower than 9.2 percent year-on-year growth achieved in August. SAIC operates car ventures with General Motors Co and Volkswagen AG.